In September of 2024, after waiting for almost two years, Heather Kohnle received a call from BC Children鈥檚 Hospital that the much needed spinal surgery her daughter had to have was finally happening.
Brianna suffered from extreme scoliosis and had tumours on her spine, further exacerbating her condition. She had to be taken to BC Children鈥檚 Hospital in Vancouver for surgery to straighten her spine, insert two rods and 26 screws.
鈥淪he had been waiting so long, it just got so painful for her. She couldn鈥檛 walk anymore, she couldn鈥檛 sit in a chair anymore, her scoliosis was so bad because there鈥檚 a tumour in her spine,鈥� shared Kohnle.
Kohnle needed to be with Brianna at the hospital while she had her surgery and during recovery, meaning she would be off work for almost three months.
鈥淚鈥檓 a single mom, I鈥漹e got two kids at home, I鈥檓 working full time and I had to take three months off,鈥� said Kohnle.
When it came to the costs associated with travelling back and forth from BC Children鈥檚 Hospital and Courtenay, YANA stepped in and covered costs. There were many appointments and YANA was there every step of the way. Including helping Kohnle see her son who was back in Courtenay this whole time.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 my son back in Courtenay, having to live life on his own and start school with my mother鈥檚 support. It was so nice that YANA helped us. After two weeks of being in the hospital in September, YANA helped us get my mother, son and Brianna鈥檚 best friend over to Vancouver for a weekend.鈥�
Finally, when it came time for Brianna to be discharged from the hospital, Kohnle was hit with a $610 bill for a back brace that Brianna had to have in order to leave. It would keep her spine straight and keep her from damaging the new rods and screws. While YANA couldn鈥檛 cover that cost, they found a charity that could.
鈥淭hey reached out to two different charities and the second one paid the entire $610 bill for the brace for us.鈥�
鈥淵ANA is the coolest thing ever. And since we鈥檝e been home, they have facilitated check ups, getting us back and forth. I can鈥檛 say enough good things about them.鈥�
